On this page: Details of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, its purpose and the principles and methodology involved in the assessment.
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2011
Purpose of the Assessment
The purpose of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) is:
to identify sites with potential for housing;
assess their housing potential; and
assess when they are likely to be developed.
The principal outcome of this process is a housing trajectory that demonstrates the potential for delivering new housing over the next fifteen years in the area of the Borough. It also identifies sites that have the potential to form housing allocations in the Site Allocations DPD.
Whilst the SHLAA forms part of the technical evidence base used to inform the future pattern of development and the housing allocations, it does not make judgements about whether sites should be allocated through plan policy, and inclusion in the SHLAA does not give a presumption that particular sites would be appropriate in terms of planning policy. The process of assessing whether sites should be allocated will take into account constraints that are not considered in the SHLAA process such as national and local planning policies. Potential sites for new housing that are identified through the SHLAA process will be further tested through the plan making process for Development Plan Documents, including Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment, Appropriate Assessment, the stages of public participation and at independent examination.
In summary, the purpose of the SHLAA is to provide an assessment of potential housing land availability, and the identification of sites should not be taken as representing either an intention to allocate these sites for housing, or as material planning consideration in the determination of a planning application.
Call For Sites 2011
One of the principal sources of information on potential sites is obtained from landowners, developers, and members of the public through a “Call for Sites”. For the 2008 SHLAA this was undertaken in April and May 2008, and as part of the review of the SHLAA a further call for sites is now being carried out. Sites identified in the 2008 SHLAA will automatically be included in the review; so the new call for sites is only seeking information on additional sites or new information on sites already included. The 2008 SHLAA, including the sites assessed, can be found on the Council’s website (see below).
The ‘call for sites’ includes potential sites for uses other than housing, such as employment, retail, and leisure uses. Relevant information is sought on the use(s) considered appropriate for submitted sites, including mixed uses. This information will contribute to the evidence base for the Site Allocations Development Plan Document.
Submission Form
You may download a Submission Form here: Call for Sites - Submission Form (PDF 140Kb).
Alternatively a printed or Microsoft Word version may be supplied by contacting us at:
Swindon Borough Council Planning Service
4th Floor, Wat Tyler House (West)
Beckhampton Street
Swindon
SN1 2JH
If you require a Microsoft Word version of the pro-forma, please request one by:
E-mail: forwardplanning@swindon.gov.uk
Tel: 01793 466411 or 01793 46513.
Completed Submission Forms
Completed forms can be submitted by:
Post: Swindon Borough Council Planning Service
Freepost SCE5251
4th Floor, Wat Tyler House (West)
Beckhampton Street
Swindon
SN1 2JH.
E-mail: forwardplanning@swindon.gov.uk
Fax: 01793 466459
For inclusion in the 2011 SHLAA, forms must submitted and received no later than 6.00pm on 23 September 2011.
The Submission Form will continue to be available on this website so that potential sites can be submitted or new information provided at any time, for inclusion in future updates to the SHLAA, which will take place on an annual basis.
Please note: If you have any difficulties completing the form or would prefer a larger type version or any other format, please telephone us on 01793 466411 or 01793 466513. Alternatively, send an e-mail to forwardplanning@swindon.gov.uk.
Methodology
The methodology used to carry out the 2011 SHLAA is basically the same as in 2008, and follows national guidance. Details of the methodology can be downloaded and viewed here: SHLAA Methodology.
What happens next?
All potential housing sites that are submitted will be considered as part of the SHLAA process. The final SHLAA report is expected to be published early in 2012. Potential sites for alternative land uses will be considered as part of the Site Allocation Development Plan Document.
The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2008
The Swindon Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) - 2008 was published in January 2009. The assessment identifies potential housing capacity sites and assesses whether such sites are deliverable or developable for housing.
The 2008 SHLAA can be downloaded below:
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment - Main Document (PDF 148 kb)
Appendix 1- Policy Context-2 (PDF 26 kb)
Appendix 2 - Urban Area Map (PDF 1.49 Mb)
Appendix 3 - Primary Settlements Map (PDF 1.68 Mb)
Appendix 4 - Secondary Settlements Map (PDF 1.64 Mb)
Appendix 5 - Site Survey Form (PDF 28 kb)
Appendix 6: SHLAA Site Assessments by Ward:
Appendix 7 - Use Class Classification (PDF 22 kb)
Appendix 8 - Site Suitability Matrix (PDF 27 kb)
Appendix 9 - Availability Flowchart (PDF 21 kb)
Assessing Achievability for Housing in the Swindon Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2008, as undertaken by Alder King can be viewed as a hard copy, please contact Forward Planning for further details (e-mail: forwardplanning@swindon.gov.uk).